Warp-drawing-in machine.



C. E. BLAIR.

WARP DRAWING-IN MACHINE.

APPLiCATlON FILED MAY 8. 1909. 1,153,856, PatentedSept.14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMuIA PLANOGRAPH cc, WASHINGTON, n. c.

C E. BLAIR.

WARP DRAWING-IN MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 8 1909.

1,153,856. PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEE] 2.

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C. E. BLAIR.

WARP DRAWING-IN MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1909.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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volving it within the series.

CHARLES E. BLAIR, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO AMERICAN 'WARP- DRAWING MACHINE COMPANY, A CQRPORATIONOF MAINE wARr-DRAw'ING-IN MACHINE.

Application filed'May 8, 1909.

T 0 all whom-it may concern 7 Be it known that I, CHARLESE. Bmimof Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVarp-Drawing-In Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic heddles and drop wires, and to means for placing them one by one in position'for the operation of drawing in a warp. The invention is adapted with equal possibilities to the employment of either metallic heddles or drop wires and it is intended that these two elements may be considered interchangeably throughout the following specification and claims.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide two sets of metallic heddles or drop wires as the case maybe, one set differing from the other in a slight feature of its structure, both sets however, being of similar outline. The purpose of providing heddles or drop wires of two differentstructures is a preparatory step enabling the means by which'they are controlled and released-to release them one at a time so that they may be presented singly to a drawing-in implement. F or this purpose the heddles or drop wires are first arranged face to face in a compact series and suspended by a supporting rod, which is inclined sufficiently to cause the heddles or drop wires when free to slide by reason of their gravity, to a-device for placing them in position to receive the drawingin implement. In order that the heddles or drop wires may be released one by one, they are previously arranged in alternate order with regard to their structure, that is to say, a heddle or drop wire of one formation is interposed between two heddles or drop wires of the other formation. The heddles or drop wires thus assembled in a series of alternate arrangement are retained at the upper end of an inclined rod by a revolving device which extends through apertures in the heddles or drop wires, said apertures being of alternately different form and arranged to coincide so as to form a continuous aperture throughout the series. The retaining device is moreover adapted to release the heddles or drop wires one by one, its capacity to so release them being provided by re- The specific Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedSept14, 1915,

Serial No. 494,885.

after having moved through 180 of a revolution, each succeeding drop wire by reason of its diiferent structure and alternate arrangement being adapted to be retained when the retaining device'is-in position to release the previous heddle or drop wire.

Another feature of the invention is a device which receives the heddles or drop wires, thus released one by one and which turns them about their vertical axes so as to arrange themin edge to edge relation whereby they are adapted to receive a drawing-in implement. The devicefor' so positioning the heddles 0rdropviiresnot only arranges them in edge to edge'relation but advances them positively while in this relation" to operative position where they may conveniently receive the drawing-in implement. The heddles or drop Wires after being positioned for the drawing-in operation, are released by the latter device'and permitted to descend upon a suspending bar and to continue to slide thereon, to the precedingheddles or drop wires'having the warp threads therein, and in thisway the slay of the harness is built up. The device which positions the heddles or drop wires in edge to edge relation and advancesthem to operative position is so mounted and moved as to advance in accordance with the increase of the slay, thus changing the operative position for each drawing-in movement. One member of the device'for placing the heddles or drop wires in operative position is connected with the rod which supports the series of drop wires or heddles in their initial elevated position, and is rotated there by and has a telescopic-connection therewith for the purpose of enabling the positioning device to advance as explained in accordance with the increase of the slay.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for retaining the heddles or drop wires in their appropriate positions when they are in a loom.

By metallic heddles is meant such heddles as are commonly used-in wire or steel harness, or as are commonly used in a slightly different form for warp stop motion drop bars. These heddles are differentiated loom, after having the warp inserted ther ein, they are comparatively free to slide from side to side of the loom upon their supporting bar, and they are often displaced several inches from their appropriate position by the vibration of the loom. One means of confining the heddles in their appropriate position is to provide apertures in the supporting bar at frequent intervals and mserting pins or other projections in said apertures so that the heddles are separated into several small masses. According to the present invention,- the heddles may be confined in relatively small masses by a spacing rod which is associated with the supporting bar, and which is provided with projections extending laterally in opposite directions, said projections being of such character that, when the rod is in one position, the heddles arefree to slide upon the supporting bar, and when the rod is in another position by reason ofa quarter-turn about itsaxis, the heddles are separated from each other by the projections. The spacing rod is permanently associated with the supporting bar and when the heddles are transferred from the loom to a drawing-in machine, the supporting bar and spacing rod are likewise transferred, being retained in cooperative relation with the heddles in both machines. I

The organized warp drawing-in machine herein illustrated is provided with means for receiving two supporting bars, each having a series of heddles. The machine is thus adapted to operate two sets of heddles so that the warp maybe drawn into the heddles according to such arrangement that, when subsequently transferred to a loom, the two sets of heddles may be operated in the usual manner for the purpose of pro ducing a shed for the shuttle. For each supporting bar a series of heddles isprovided, a separate and distinct retaining and releasing device for releasing the heddles one by one, also a separate and distinct sup porting rod and positioning device for arranging the released heddles in edge to edge relation, and actuating mechanism for cau ing the release of a heddle from one series and then the release of a heddle from the are of two different styles.

for the warp drawing-in operation. Fig. 21

is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is'an end elevation on a larger scale of aportion of the actuating mechanism. Fig. i is a top plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown by Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a series of metallic heddles, a supporting bar, a'spacing rod, av retaining and releasing device, means for placing the lied-- dlesin operative position, and means for ad vancing the positioning means. Fig. 6 is an'elevation of a metallic heddle or drop wire together with its associated elements in cross section. Fig. 7 is -a detail view of the positioning device for the heddles or drop wires. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a guide forming a part of said device. Fig. 9 is an end view thereof. -Fig. 1O isa section on line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a secs tion similar to Fig. 10 with the addition of a helical conveyer anda series of heddles or drop wires. Fig. 12 is an elevation of fragments of a supporting bar for the bed.

dles or drop wires and a spacing rod. Figs. 18, 141 and 15 are diagrammatic views which.

illustrate successive steps of the heddle rcleasing device, showing the relative stages when two ofsaid devices are combined to be operated by one actuating mechanism.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

So far as the structure of the heddles or drop wires is concerned, it will be seen by reference to Figs. 6, 13,14 and 15 that they l6represents a heddle of one style and 17 represents a heddle of the other style. Each heddle is formed with an aperture 18 and with an elongated slot at one end. The slots of the heddles 16 are indicated at 19, and the slots of the heddles 17 are indicated at 20. The upper ends of the slots as well as the apertures 18 coincide in both sets of heddles, but the lower ends of the slots 19 are nearer the apertures 18 than are the lower ends of the slots 20, thereby providing'longer slots in the heddles 16 than in the heddles 17. The slots are adapted to receive a supporting bar 21, hereinafter described, and a spacing rod 22 permanently associated with the supporting bar. provided with apertures 23 which are arranged between the apertures 18 and the slots 20 and which coincide sufliciently with The heddles 17 are furthermore the lower ends of the slots 19 so that, when a number of the heddles of both'sets are arranged in alinement, a substantially continuous aperture through the series is formed by the apertures 23 and the slots 19, asshown by Fig. 6.

When a series of heddles is installed in the drawing-in machine, the supporting bar 21 and the spacing rod 22 associated therewithmay accompany the heddles and may be supported in any desired manner providing the necessary freedom of movement of the-heddles when they are placed in operative position for the drawing-in operation; If. the supporting bar 21 is arranged at an inclination to thehorizontal, as shown by Figs. 1 and 5, the heddles.willobviously slide downward along thebarlby reason of the'force of gravity. The heddles are, however, initially retained at the upper end of the supporting bar by means of a retaining and releasing hook indicated at 24. The releasing hook is a finger formed at one end of a rod 25 arranged parallel to thei-nclined bar 21 and provided with suitable mechanism hereinafter described'for'rotating it.

26 is a supporting rod which is one member of a two part telescopicshaft hereinafter described. The supporting rod26 is adapted to fit loosely within the apertures 18 with which the heddles of both sets are provided, and in this way the rod which isarranged parallel to the inclined bar 21 is adapted to support the heddles as shown by Figs. 5

andG. VVhenthe heddles are supported in alinement by the rod 26, the apertures 23.

in the heddles 17 are caused to coincide with the lower extremities of the slots 19 in the heddles 16 and thus provide a substantially continuous aperture through the series of heddles comprising both styles through which the releasing rod 25 may extend. By reason of the arrangement and relation of the apertures 23 and the grooves 19, the releasing hook 24 when extending upwardly is adapted to retain a heddle 17, and when extending downwardly is adapted to release such heddle. On the other hand, when the hook 2-1 extends downwardly it is adapted to engage and retain a heddle 16 .and when it extends upwardly it is adapted to release such heddle. In other words, .when the hook, which by analogy may be compared to the hour hand of a clock, points to twelve, as shown by Fig. 5, it is adapted to retaina heddle 17 and to release a heddle 16, but when it points to six oclock it is adapted to retain a heddle 16 and release a heddle 17. It is apparent therefore, that, if the heddles be arranged alternately with regard to their structural variation and the releasing rod 25 with the hook 24: be extended through the substantially continuous aperture described, rotation of the releasing hook in one and the same direction affects the release of the themto operative position.

heddles one by one and retains all but the foremost heddle until it has completed 180 of a revolution after having released the preceding heddle.

The supporting rod 26 as previously stated, is one member of a two part telescopic shaft; It constitutes the outer mem ber of theshaft and is of tubular formation and is-adapted to receive the other member 27 as shown by Figs. 5 and 7. The member 27 has atits outer enda helix-28 adapted to receive the heddles one by one as they are releasedfronrthe upper series and advance The member 27 receives its rotary motion from the member 26 and. for this purpose it is preferably of noncircular cross section, preferably having four sides and adapted to fit in the interior of the member 26 which is of similar formation as shown by Figs. 6 and 7. The member 26 revolves in a given position but the member 27 is moved. along its axis as hereinafter explained for the purpose of changing the position of the helix 28 in accordance with the increase of the. slay as the warp is drawn in.

Each. heddle upon being released by the hook 2 1 descends by reason of gravity toward the helix 28, and upon engaging the first convolution of the helix, see Fig. 11, it is turned slightly about its perpendicular axis. A portion of the helix 28 is incased in a cylindrical shell 29 which is formed of two parts of a movable guide 30 having a perpendicular saw slot 31. he edges of the casing 29, which form the mouth thereof, are converging as indicated at 32, and are adapted to cooperate with the helix in turning the heddles about their perpendicular axesas shown by Fig. 11. In this way, the heddles upon being released one by one from the compact mass are turned from face to face relation to edge to edge relation and are advanced through the saw slot 31 in the guide 30 to operative position. The ends of the cylindrical casing 29 extend sufiiciently beyond the supporting legs of the guide to provide a clear space in which a drawingin implement may be moved for its insertion in the aperture 18. The detached heddle shown by Fig. 5 is in position to receive a drawing-in implement im mediately prior to being released by the helix 28. It will be observed that the sides of the heddles which embrace the supporting bar 21 are slightly deflected when the heddles are turned to this position, but the heddles immediately spring back to their former relative position upon being released by the helix.

The guide 30 is formed upon a nut 33 threaded upon a lead screw 34 driven by any suitable means for the purpose of ad vancing the guide toward the mass of heddles as the slay increases.

Inasmuch as the present invention is not directed toward means for drawing-in the warp, no drawing-in implement is illustrated. The drawing-in operation may, however, be accomplished by a manually operated implement or, ifudesired, may be accomplished by automatic mechanism. con.- structed and arranged to cooperate in unison with the mechanism for controlling the heddles. t is sufiici'ent to state that the present invention does, not seek to provide drawing-in mechanism but to provide means for placing the heddles in position to receive a drawing-in implement whether such implement be operated manually or by automatic,.mechanism. After each heddle has been threaded upon a warp, it is further advanced. by the helix 28 and released so that it may. drop upon the supporting bar 21 and slide downwardly thereon to the previously threaded heddles and thus be added to the slay. When the warp hasbeen drawn through the desired number of heddles, the warp beam and the supporting bar 21. and spacing rod 22 together with the heddles arranged thereon are ready to be transferred from the drawing-in machine to a loom to be there set up in the same relative positions. I

i The spacing rod 22' is provided with. points or projections 35 extending laterally therefrom and arranged at suitable intervals as shown by Figs. 5 and 12. Its ends are arranged in suitable devices which connect it with the supporting barand it is supported directly beneath the lower edge of the bar. The lower edge of the. bar is formed with indentations 86 adapted .to receive the pins 35 thus permitting aclose arrangement of the spacing rod. Nhen the supporting bar and spacing rod are in a drawing-in machine, the spacing rod is turned so that the pins 35 extend perpendicularly as shown by the drawings, thus permitting the heddles to slide freely along the supporting bar,

but when they are set up in a loom, the spacing rod is given a quarter turn about its axis thus causing the pins 35 to extend transversely and thus interpose barriers adapted to prevent excessive displacement of the-heddles. The pins 35 are preferably tapered to points so that they are adapted to freely enter between closely spaced heddles. Y I

The description so far describesthe structure of the heddles and means for operating one series thereof, It has been heretofore stated that the invention is equally adapted to be employed with either metallic heddles or drop wires and that the terms applied thereto may be considered interchangeable. This is true when successive drop wires are threaded upon the warp threads in a single series, but close arrangement is impracticable because of consequent interference.

Drop wires are therefore usually arranged in two or more seriesf For the purpose of threading individual heddles upon a warp, it is necessary that each set thereof according to the number and arrangement of the harnesses, should be divided into a separate series. according to each division .of the harness, and that the heddles from the sev eral series be fed down for the drawing-in operation according to the arrangement. required by the predetermined arrangement of the harnesses. With this requirement in view, ajmachine is shown by Figs. 1 to 4 for operating upon two series of heddles. Suitable mechanism is provided forcausing the release of a'heddle from one series and then the release'ofa heddle from the other series andso on releasing the heddles alternately fronrthe two series, whereby they may be so threaded upon the warp that each'series may be. subsequently attachedto harness mechanism for producing a shed in the warp by moving the heddles up and down in opposite directions.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a warp drawing-in machine comprising end frames 40 provided with bearings for a warp beam 11. The upper portionsof the end frames 40 are adapted to receive a pair of supporting bars 21 and support them at an inclination to the horizontal as indicated by Fig. 1. The seats for the supporting bars 21 are also adapted to receive the spacing rods 22 which, as previously stated, are permanently related to the supporting bars. The ends of the spac- .lng rods are provided with heads 42 by which they may be turned. The drawing-in machine is provided with mechanism adapted to release and feed the heddles or drop wires on the two supporting bars 21, said mechanism being here shown as being manually operative although it may be understood that automatic actuating mechanism might be substituted therefor.

In the supporting frames 40 are bearings for a pair of supporting rods 26, a pair of re taining rods 25, and a pair of lead screws 34:. The rods 25 are connected by gearing which causes them to revolve in unison, said gearing comprising pinions &3 one on each rod, and a gear lt intermeshing with both of the pinions and mounted on a stud 45. The supporting rods 26 are likewise connected by gearing for causing them to revolve in unison, said gearing comprising a pair of pinions 46 one on each of the rods, and a gear 47 intermeshing with both of the pinions 46 and also mounted upon the stud 15. The gears a4. and 1.7 are rigidly COIlIlGOtQdSO as to revolve as a unit and their ratio with rela tion to their respective pinions is'such that the rods 26 are given two revolutions while the rods 25 are given one revolution. This ratio of the gearing carries out the principle governing the actuation of the releas ing hook 2% and the helix 28 which, according to previous explanation, require respectively one-half a revolution and one whole revolution for releasing and positioning the heddle.

Means is provided for revolving the rods 25 and 26 intermittently in one direction, said means including a ratchet 48 on the stud 5 and rigidly related to the gears 44: and 47. A pawl 49 of which the free end is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet and of which the other end is pivotally mounted upon a crank pin 50 is adapted to drive the ratchet and the two gears intermittently. The crank pin 50 is here shown as carried by a disk 51 mounted upon a stud 52 aflixed to one of the end frames -l0. The disk is provided with a second crank pin 53 from which a connecting rod 54: extends to a treadle 56 represents a spring connected to the treadle and to the end frame 40 in such manner as to normally elevate the treadlc to the position illustrated.

hen the treadle is actuated, the pawl f9 advances the ratchet d8 one tooth at a time and in this way it imparts to the releasing hooks 2% intermittent rotation in steps each equivalent to of a revolution. In order that the releasing hooks may be adapted to release the heddles alternately from the two series upon the supporting rods 26, they are related according to the arrangement shown by Figs. 13, 14: and 15. In Fig. 13 the heddles 1G and 17 which represent the two series of heddles are both retained by the overlapping of the releasing hooks. A movement of 90 of a circle imparted to both of the releasing hooks advances them to the position shown by Fig. 1 in which the foremost heddle of the right hand series is. disengaged, while the fore most heddle of the left-hand series is still. engaged by its hook. Another step of 90 in the same direction causes the releasing hooks to move to the positions shown by Fig. 15 where the foremost heddle of the lefthand series is released while the foremost heddle of the right-hand series is still retained. One more step of 90 in the same direction moves the releasing hooks to the position shown by Fig. 13 in which the fore most heddle of the right-hand series is re leased and the foremost heddle of the lefthand series is still retained. In this way, the two series of heddles each including the two styles of heddles alternately arranges, are caused to discharge theheddles one at a time first from one series and then from another series so that the successive heddles presented to the drawing-in implement represent alternately the two series.

In order that the point of drawing in the warp may be advanced step by step in accordance with the increase of the slay, the two guides 80, of which there is one for each series of heddles, are mounted one upon each of a pair of lead screws 3a which are provided with pinions 57 intermeshing with a gear 58.

59 is a gear interposed between the gear 47 and the gear 58 which transmits movement to the latter gear which in turn drives the two lead screws so as to cause the guides 30 to advance in unison.

I do not herein claim the heddles or the assemblage of heddles per 86, these features being claimed in my copending application Serial No. 824,250, filed March 12, 1914.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a warp drawing-in machine, the combinatienwith a series of two different forms of drop-wires alternately arranged face to face, and a suspending bar therefor, of means for supporting the bar at an inclination to the horizontal, means for retaining the series and releasing the drop-wires one by one, and means for receiving the released drop wires and turning them edge to edge.

2. In a warp drawing-in machine, the combination with a series of two different forms of drop-wires alternately arranged face to face, and a suspending bar therefor, of means for supporting the bar at an inclination to the horizontal, means for retain ing the series and releasing the drop-wires one by one, and a feeding device forturning the released drop-wires about a vertical axis and advancing them positively to operative position. I

3. In a warp drawing-in machine, the combination with a series of two different forms of drop-wires alternately arranged face to face, and a suspending bar therefor, of means for supporting the bar at an in clination to the horizontal, means for retain ing the series and releasing the drop-wires one by one, means for turning the released drop-wires edge to edge and feeding them to operative position, and means for feeding said turning and feeding means in the direction of the growth of the slay.

4. In a warp drawing-in machine, a feed shaft formed with a helix and adapted to extend through a series of drop-wires, and a guide in cotiperative relation with said helix adapted to turn the drop-wires edge to edge and guide them in that relation.

In a warp drawing-in machine, a helix adapted to extend through and feed the drop-wires, a guide in coiiperative relation with the helix adapted to turn and guide the drop wires in edge to edge relation, means for advancing the guide and helix in the direction of the growth of the slay, means for supporting a series of pendent dropwires in a compact mass and releasing them one by'one, and a two-part telescopic shaft including said helix and extending through the mass of dropires.

6. In a Warp drawing-in machine, means for supporting a series of dr0p-Wires, means for retaining them in a compact'mass and releasing them one by one, a telescopic twopart shaft extending through the mass of dropires, one of said parts having a helical portion adapted to feed the drop-Wires, a movable guide cooperating With the helix and having a perpendicular slot extending parallel to the path of the drop-Wires for turning and guiding them in edge to edge relation, and means for advancing the guides toward the mass of unreleased drop-Wires.

7. In a Warp drawing-in machine, inclined means for suspending the drop-Wires in face to face relation, means for confining the empty drop-Wires at the upper end of said inclined means and for releasing them one by one, and means for turning the released drop-Wire in edge to edge relation and for feeding them down the incline.

8. In a Warp drawing-in machine, inclined means for suspending side by side a plurality of series of drop-Wires or heddles arranged face to face, means for confining the series in compact masses at the upper end of said inclined means and for releasing the drop-Wires or heddles one by one from the series, and means for conducting the released drop-Wires or'heddles to drawing-in position, said means being adapted. to turn the drop-Wires and advance them in edge to edge relation.

9. In a Warp drawing-in machine, a plurality of heddle or drop-Wire bars adapted to be transferred to a loom, a series of metallic drop-Wires or heddles arranged on each bar, means for supporting the bars at an incline, individual controlling means for supporting and confining each series of drop- Wires or heddles at the upper end of the incline, said means being adapted to release the drop Wires or heddles one by one, individual actuating means for turning the released drop Wires or heddles about a perpendicular axis and advancing them in edge to edge relation to operative position, and means for driving said controlling means and actuating means in unison.

10. In a Warp drawing-in machine, a supporting bar for a series of metallic heddles or drop-Wires, a revoluble spacing rod associated therewith,and a plurality of pins extending laterally from said rod and adapted to extend laterally between adjacent heddles or drop-Wires When the rod is in one position and to extend perpendicularly when the rod is turned through ninety degrees of a revolution.

'11. The combination with a series of de bers, and means for engaging the said hold- 1 ing portion While leaving the next adjacent members free for movement;

12. The combination With a series of detached, thread-engaging loom elements havmg each a holding portion arranged to lie adjacent a cut-away portion in the next member of the series, and means adapted to pass through the cut-away portion of said adjacent member and engage the holding portion of said first-named member tohold the same While releasing the said next adj acent member of the series.

13. Mechanism for operating upon heddles or the like comprising means to support the heddles in series, said heddles having openings therein, and means positioned in said openings to effect the separation of said heddles singly and successively from the series.

l LMechanism to operate upon metallic heddles or the like comprising means to support perforated metallic heddles in series, and means mounted for rotation in said perforations to. effect the release, of said series.

heddles singly and successively from the 15. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles or the like comprising meansto support in series metallic heddles, eaclrheddie having a heddle releasing formation,

and means mounted in such formation to effect the release of the heddles successively from the series.

16. Mechanism for operating upon indev series to coeperatetwith' such formations to effect the release of the heddles successively from the series. v

17. .Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support in series heddles having heddle releasing formations, and means engaging the heddles ofthe series to release them singly and successively therefrom by cooperation With said heddle releasing formations. J

18. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles or the. like comprising means to support differentially fashioned heddles in series, and means in constant engagement With the leading heddle to effect the release of the heddles singly and successively from the series.

19. Mechanism foroperating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support alternately fashioned heddles in series, and means disposed in para].

lelism With the series of heddles to release the heddl s singly and successively from the series. I

20. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support alternately fashioned heddles in series, and means rotating in one direction and operatively engaging the alternately fashioned portions of said heddles to release them singly and successively from the series.

21. Mechanism for operating upon inde pendent heddles comprising means to support in series independent heddles having differentially arranged perforations, a heddle releasing key engaging said perforations, and means to operate said key to release said heddles singly and successively from the series.

22. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles comprising means to support in series independent heddles having oppositely arranged perforations, a key mounted in said perforations, and means to rotate the same, thereby to discharge the leading heddle from the series and to hold from release the remaining heddles.

23. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support in a series independent heddles having threading eyes and heddle releasing perforations, heddle threading means, a heddle releasing key mounted in said heddle releasing perforations, means to rotate said key to release heddles singly and successively, means to separate released heddles, and rotary means to position the leading separated heddle for the threading operation.

Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to lock a series of heddles in compacted position, and including a key to; re lease the leading heddle.

25. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles, or the like comprising means to support a series of heddles, a releasing key to release said heddles singly and successively, and means to compact said heddles against said releasing key.

26. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles or the like comprising means to support in a series heddles having differentially arranged perforations therein, a releasing .key engaging said perforations, means to operate the key to release heddles in succession from said series, and means to compact said heddles against said key.

27. Mechanism for operating upon inde-v pendent heddles or the like comprising means to support a series of heddles, means to release heddles successively from said series, means to separate released heddles, and means differentially to operate said heddle releasing and heddle separating means.

28. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles or the like comprising means to support a series of heddles, rotatable heddle releasing means to release heddles consecutively, rotatable heddle conveying means to convey released heddles and differential driving connections between said heddle releasing and heddle conveying means.

29. In a machine for selecting and positioning detached thread-receiving loom elements, the combination with a series of such unseparated loom elements of a rotatable support therefor.

30. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support independent heddles in a series, means to release intermittently the leading heddle, rotary means to position the released heddle for a threading operation, and rotary ejecting means to eject the threaded heddle.

81. Mechanism for operating upon independent heddles or the like comprising means to support independent heddles in a series, and a positioning Worm to position the heddles in succession for a threading operation. I

32. Mechanism for operating upon Warp threads or the like comprising means to support independent heddles in a series, and a rotary Worm for positioning the heddles in succession for a threading operation, said worm having means for ejecting the threaded heddles.

33. In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination With means for holding a series of flat, metallic heddles, of rotary facing means for turning and facing successive heddles adapted to undergo complete successive rotations about an axis in facing the said heddles.

34. In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, of means for holding fiat, metallic heddles in compact series, of rotary releasing means for releasing successive heddles, and rotary facing means adapted to undergo complete successive rotations about an axis in facing the said heddles.

85. In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination With means for holding fiat, metallic heddles in compact series, of rotary releasing means for releasing successive heddles, rotary conveying means for conveying a released heddle to a position to be faced, and rotary facingmeans for turning the heddle to face the heddle eye at substantially right angles to its position in the series.

36; In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination with means for holding. flat, metallic heddles in compact series, of rotary releasing means for, releasing successive heddles from the se ries, rotary conveying means for conveying a released heddle to a position to be faced, rotary facing means for turning the heddle, and rotary means for passing on the heddle from the faced position.

37 In a heddlefacing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination with means for holding a series of flat metallic heddles, rotary facing means for turning a heddle, and rotary conveying means for passing on a heddle from its faced position.

38. A machine for operating upon independent heddles or the like, having means for holding the heddles in a compacted series, including a rod passing through perforations in each heddle, said rod being provided at one end with a lateral projection, and said perforations having an extension at one side for the passage of said projection, said extension in adjacent heddles being out of alinement, whereby, as said rod is rotated, it will successively release the heddles.

39. In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination with means for holding such heddles in compact series, of rotary releasing means for releasingsuccessive heddles from the series, said means including a member movable across the face of the heddle and an actuating member therefor interiorly engaging and parallel to the series of heddles.

40. In a heddle facing mechanism for facing metallic heddles, the combination with means for holding such heddles in compact series, of means for releasing successive heddles from the series and rotary facing means for turning a released heddle to face the heddle eye at substantially right angles to its position in the series, and a cooperating abutment between which and said facing means theheddle is faced.

41. The combination with a plurality of detached, thread-receiving loom elements having differentially arranged openings, means for holding them in compact series with their openings in general alinement, and means positioned in the openings and cooperating with the diflerentialarrangement thereof to separate them singly and successively. from the series.

42. The combination with a plurality of detached, thread-receiving loom elements having alternatingly different internal structure, of means for holding them in a bank or series and separating means cooperating with the alternatingly different internal structure of the heddles for releasing them singly and successively from the series.

43. The combination witha series of fiat metallic heddles having each a releasing opening, of means for holding the. heddles in an alternatingly varying. arrangement whereby a portion of the flat face of each heddle is uncovered by the releasing opening of the preceding heddle, holding means engaging the uncovered portion of a heddle to hold back all but the preceding heddle,

and means to disengage the holding means from the uncovered portion of a heddle and apply it to the uncovered portion of the next succeeding heddle. I

- 44. The combination with means for holding a series of detached, thread-engaging loom elements to present a diiferentially'and alternately varied internal arrangement of separating means cooperating with difierential internal arrangement of the members of the series for releasing them singly and successively.

45. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles having means for holding the heddles in series to present them in regular alternate internal linear variation as between successive members of the series, and means cooperating with the internal linear variation to release the heddles singly and successively from the series.

46. Mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles having means for holding the heddles in series to present them in regular alternate linearv variation as between successive members of the series, and means cooperating with the linear variation to release the heddles singly and successively from the series.

47 In a machine for acting upon metallic heddles, the combination with means for supporting a series of such heddles, the form of each supported heddle undergoing a regular alternate variation in successivelheddles of the series, and means cooperating with the alternately varied heddles to release them singly and successively from the se ries.

' 48. In a machine for acting upon metallic heddles, the combination with means 7 for holding a series of such heddles to present an alternate varying formation and provide each a holding portion uncovered by the preceding heddle, of holding means engaging the uncovered portion of the heddle to hold back all but the preceding heddle, and means to disengage the holding means from the uncovered portion of a heddle-and apply it to the uncovered portion of the next succeeding heddle. V w

49. In a machine for acting upon metallic heddles, the combination of means for holding a series of detached, metallic heddles, composed of thin, resilient sheet material in a compacted bank on a stringer bar to present an alternately varying formation and present each holding portion uncovered by the preceding heddle, holding means engaging the uncovered portion of the heddle to hold back all but the succeeding heddle, and means to disengage the holding means from the uncovered portion of a heddle and apply it to the uncovered portion of the next suc ceeding heddle. V

50. The combination with a plurality of detached, metallic heddles composed of thin,

resilient, sheet material, of generally similar external linear contour, each heddle having its flat face formed to present at some part thereof a holding portion and each heddle having a releasing opening, and means for holding said heddles in compacted arrangement whereby a continuous aperture is formed in the compacted heddles through the successive releasing openings, the hold ing portions being presented in regular alternation and variation of position in successive heddles, the holding part of one heddle being uncovered by the releasing opening of the preceding heddle, a releasing shaft passing through the formed aperture, releasing means carried by the end of the shaft and engaging the holding portion of a heddle to hold back all except the preceding heddle, and means for turning said shaft to cause the releasing means to engage the holding portion of the next succeeding heddle.

51. In a machine for acting upon metallic heddles, the combination with means for supporting in a compacted bank a series of individual detached metallic heddles composed of thin, resilient sheet material, each heddle having its fiat face formed to present at some part thereof a holding portion and each heddle having a releasing formation, said heddles being held whereby there is presented successively a regular, alternate variation in position of the holding portion and whereby the holding portion of one heddle is uncovered by the releasing formation of the preceding heddle and holding means engaging the holding portion of a heddle to hold back all except the preceding heddle, and means for disengaging the holding means from the holding portion of a heddle and engaging the same with the holding portion of the next succeeding heddle.

52. In a mechanism for operating upon metallic heddles the combination with a stringer bar, on which a bank of individual, detached, metallic heddles composed of thin, resilient sheet material is adapted to be compacted with the flat faces of the heddles in contact, each heddle having its fiat face formed to present at some part thereof a' holding portion and each heddle having a releasing formation, the bank of heddles being held to present a regular, alternate variation in the position of the holding parts whereby theholding part of one heddle is uncovered by the releasing formation of the preceding heddle, holding means adapted to engage the holding portion of a heddle and hold back all but the preceding heddle,

and means to disengage the holding means from the holding portion of a heddle and apply said means to the holding portion of the next succeeding heddle.

53. In a machine for operation upon metallic heddles the combination with an inclined stringer bar for holding a series or bank of such heddles and means for releasing successive heddles of the series whereby the released heddle tends to be conveyed along the said inclined bar by gravity.

541-. In a machine for acting upon metallic heddles, the combination with means for holding a bank or series of said heddles, means for releasing the heddles singly and successively from the series and inclined guiding means for causing the gravity assisted conveyance of a released heddle from the series.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. BLAIR. Witnesses:

W. P. ABELL, P. W. Pnzznr'ri.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. 0. 

